Coin-controlled telephone pay-station.



G. A. LONG. COIN CONTROLLED TELEPHONE PAY STATION. APPLIOATIOK FILEDMAR.19, 1913.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914. 1 2 .1. 6

o as 23 M a? 3g 5 llllllllll! IHIII I I I IIIIIIII m Witnesses:1100010607:

UNITED srArEs PATENT-OFFER A GEORGE A. LONG, or HARTFORD, connnc'ricn'r,AssIG'No'n 'ro THE GRAY 'rnnnrnonn' PAY STATION COMPANY, OF HARTFORD,CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OF CON- NECTICU'T.

Specification of Letters Patent.

COIN-CONTROLLED TELEPHONE PAY-STATION.

Original application filed February 19, 1912, Serial no. 078361,,Divided and this application filed mm 1-9, 1913. Serial in. 755,316.

To all whom it may concern:

\ citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of-Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Coin-Controlled Telephone Pay-Stations, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to coin controlled telephone pay stations. Itshould be understood that in using the term coin I do so with the objectof not only inoludin a piece of money but also with the object oincluding a check or something of 'an equivalent, character. f Thepresent case is a division'of my application for .patent for telephonepay stations, filed February 19, 1912, Serial No. 678,661, and whichmatured into Patent No. 1075485, Oct. 14,1913.

A coin or check controlled telephone'pay station involving my inventionpreferably includes in its make-up, a signal which may be of anysuitablekind but which in the present case is of audible type, and atelephone transmitter, and although the transmitter and the signal ma berelated in any desirable manner, I pre or that they be in a resonantconnection, by reason of which when the signal is operated such factwill through said transmitter and line, be transferred to a centraloflice operator to indicate to her that. toll has been paid or someequivalent necessary act performed. The signal to which I have alludedmay be operated in any suitable way, although I prefer that this be doneby the person at the calling station or the individualwho uses the paystation. One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide meansfor preventing the operation of the signal until toll for a message hasbeen paid.

The device possesses many other features of novelty and advantage, whichwith theforegoing will be set forth at length in the followingdescription wherein I Wlll outline. in detail one of the many forms ofembodi-, ment of my invention, .this showing-being provided to enablethose skilled in the art to practise the invention. From this it will beevident that I do not restrict myself to such showing; I may departtherefrom in several? respects within the scope of the invention set 1orth in the claims following said description.

a coin has been introduced into the machine the signal mechanism may bereleased and operated. in addition to this I provide for several callsfor one coin or it may be for a an-outgoing local callis five cents. Iprovide forreceiving a coin or coins of any denomination ordenominations and to give in return for the amount a specific number ofcalls. In the present instance the machine is adapted to receive atwenty-five cent piece,and the person who inserts such on custom.

Referring tothe drawings; Figure 1 is a phone pay station involving myinvention.- Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the closed by thecasing, and, Fig; 4' is a front elevation of an indicator. 1

out the several figures, which it will be per-= ceived are on difl'erentscales. 3

The different parts of the device are preferably housed in a suitablecasing such as that denoted in a general wayby 5, andto 6, after theusual fashion in this art. As already intimated the signal may be of anysuitable kind} thatshown is denoted in a generalway by '7 and consistsof a gong in resonant connection 'with the said transmitter. This gongmay be struck in any 8 on the for-ward stroke of the plunger 9, whichplunger extends through a hole or perforation in the casing 5 so astobeaccessible exteriorly ofsaid vcasing. It might be added that theeffect the action 0 the hammer by the user of the station and thatit isretracted bya coiled spring 10 which with'the gong) hammer arevi-nclosed in the casing, I supported by the bracket 11. This bracketplunger 9 having a lateral projection 13 adapted to enter between thebranches of the fork 14 of an arm 14" connected wlth the Patented Apr.21, 1914.

group. of coins or for a given amount ofmoney. The ordinary minimumcharge for front elevation partly in section, of a tele v same. Fig. 3is a viewof the mechanism in- Like characters'refer to likepa-rts'througwhich is connected the telephone transmitter.

suitable manner for example by the hammer plunger 9 is advanced, to

11 also car-mesa register or-counter 12, the

In the organization thus shown, as soon as coin into the machine will beentitled to five calls, although this will depend altogether and eing'the forward motion of the plunger 9 the hammer 8 is first swung out andthen freed, at which point the operating spring for said hammer movesthe latter quickly against the gong 7.

It is not a. matter of importance as to what the denomination of thecoin or coins is, the object in the construction shown being tointroduce into the machine a certain amount of money which prepays for acertain number of calls, and although it is conceivable that severalcoins ofdifferent denominations might be simultaneously introduced intothe machine, I have shown means for simply supplying one thereinto, andalthough" as previously intimated the denomination of this particularcoin may \vary, the parts are so proportioned as shown to receive atwenty-five cent piece. The means for receiving a coin or coins may varyas to construction, although that shown and now to be described answersthe necessary conditions.

In the casing 5 there are two cooperating members such as 15 and 16which are adapted to be coupled by-a coin or its equivalent, the part 15serving to operate certain de vices within the casing as willhereinafter appear, while the part 16 is directly operable by the userof the machine. Unless a coin is employed to couple these two parts thepart 15 cannot be operated when the part 16 is, a coin being necessaryto effect such action. The parts 15 and 16 might be aptly considered asskeleton cylinders, the casing 5 having interiorly thereof, means forrotatively supporting the outer cylinder 16, the inner cylinder 15 beingfitted within the said outer cylinder, and both having slots whichnormally register to receive the coin 17 which is adapted to besustained temporarily by a rest as 18 carried by the outer cylinder. Arunway as 19 leads to the normally registering slots in the parts 15 andistering slots in the parts 15 16 and from a slot 19 in one side of thecasing 5. It will besuppos'ed that a coin is introduced into thisrunway. When it is, it travels down the same and enters the regand 16thereby coupling said parts together so that they can be moved asone,.'by operating in the present case, the outer cylinder orbarrel 16which latter it will be observed has an out Wardly extending stud 20supported for rocking motion in a bearing constituting part of thecasing5. Said stud is shown equipped with a handle or lever 21 by which thesame can be conveniently operated and which bears normally against astop 22 on the casing at which tlme the slots of the two parts 15 and 16coincide. The inner cylinder 15 is shown providedwith an inwardlyextending stud or pivot 23, the casing 5 interiorly thereof beingrovided with a bearing for supporting said stud 23 for turning movement.It follows that when the parts '15 and 16 are coupled together by a coinand that when the arm 21 is swung down otherwise operated, to impart ahalf turn to the outer cylinder or barrel 16, the inner barrel 15 isgiven acorresponding movement, and when the half turn has been completedthe coin 17 will drop from the two parts into the usual coin box 24 inthe bottom portion of the casing 5.

- The'machine preferably includes indicating means which in the presentcase shows both the amount of money that is in the machine and also thenumber of calls to which a subscriber may be entitled, although neitheror both is essential. Although said indicating means may be of anyconvenient kind it is shown as comprising an indicating I member such as25 graduated from zero to 60, each graduation represeting five cents orone call. In connection with the indicating member is a pointer orfinger 26, the shank of which extends through and moves longitudinallyof registering slots 27 in the indicatin member 25 and easing 5respectively eing connected with a carriage as 28 which in the presentcase has a movement transversely of the casing 5, being preferablyoperated as will hereinafter appear, in one direction through theprimary agency of the plunger 9 or its equivalent, and in the otherdirection through the primary agency of the coin-controlled mechanism towhich I have alluded already or in somesimilar manner. As shown thiscarriage is supported by parallel shafts 29 and 30 sustained by suitablebearings in the casing and extending transversely thereof, the shaft 29being shown as a screw while the shaft 30 is plain. Connected ri' idlywith the said carriage 28, is a nut 31 n engagement with the threadedportion of the screw shaft 29, said nut fitting an openiing in thecarrier 28 and being held in place by the nut 32. The holding nut 32engages the feed nut 31at one end thereof, said feed nut having at theopposite end the pinion 33. From this it will be clear that when thefeed nut 31 is moved longitu shaft 29 by rotating the latter, thecarriage 28 will be similarly operated and at the same time will movelongitudinally of the parallel supportin and guide shaft 30. In theconstruction s own the pinion 33 is in mesh with the gear 34 s lined tothe shaft 30 and the hub of whic portion of the said carriage 28 and isin place by the nut 35. Pinned or otherwise suitably connected with thestud 23 is a gear 36 in mesh with the pinion 37 inally of the fastenedsuitably to one end of the shaft 38 supported by bearings in the casing5. This fits in the upper ield shaft 38 also carries the gear 39 in meshwith the pinion 40 on one end of the screw inner end of the plunger orequivalent member 9.

It will be assumed that a twenty-five cent piece 17 has been inserted inthe machine and is resting on the support 18, and that the members 15and 16 z are, therefore,

coupled together by such coin. In this event said parts 15 and 16 can beoperated as oneby the handle 21, and on such m0ve .inent the said parts15 and 16 will be given a half rotation and when they are inverted thequarter 17 will gravitate therefrom and thereby uncouple said parts. Itwill be understood that although the inner cylinder has a continuousstep-by-step movement always in the same direction, that the outer,.cylinde1; is capable simply of a half turn, being limited by the stop22 already described and thec'ompanion stop 21'. On

the turning of the'inner cylinder 15 the stud 23'is given a similarmovement, and I y the screw shaft 29 through the interposed gearingalready described is correspondingly moved whereby the carriage 28 willbe advanced or as shown, moved tothe right in Figs. 1 and 3. If priorto. the'operatlon already described the pointer 26 was opposite zero onthe indicating'memberor scale 25,- said pointer at the conclusion ofsaid operation wbuld be opposite the five mark. If a second quarter wereintroduced thev pointer through the movement of the carriage andthepa-rts already described, would position until the signal '7 becarried to the ten mark on the pointer and so on,-so that if twelvequarters were employed the pointer would finally be opposite the sixtymark, indicating that $3.00 was in the machine, and in such a case the"carriage 28 would be shifted to the extreme advanced position and wouldremain in this position or in any intermediate advanced was operated onmakin a call.

' It will be assumed that coin is in the machine and that a call is tobe made. In

I making a call the central oflice operator requires the subscriber tooperate the signal,-

andbefore the signal can be operated it is necessary to thrust theplunger 9 rearward. On such motion of the plunger the pawl 42 throughthe intermediate described parts is moved one step thereby imparting acorreobtaining hence the gear 33 and nut 31 will be similarly operatedso as to retract said nut 31 and therefore the carriage 28, the latterbeing retracted or drawn backward one step and consequently moving thepointer 26 from a higher toward a lower number on the scale 25, If thepointer happened to be opposite the five mark on the scale. the samewouldtbe moved opposite the four mark on said scale, when 'theoperationjust described was concluded. It will be assumed that there is twent-'-five cents in the machine. When each call is made the carriage. 28 isretracted one step. and when the five calls have been made the gear 34will be brought substantially and solidly against the hub of the ear 41so as thereby to effectually lock t e ratchet 41 against move-.. mentand therefore prevent the plunger 9 from being moved to effect theoperation of the signal .7, it being necessary to insert acoin before'thesignal mechanism can be operated.

I have described in detail the construction shown in the accompanyingdrawings, which is highly advantageous. make it clear that I can departfrom this construction in many respects. I may if de- I wish to V siredprovide means for handling coins of different denominations.

Although the counter or register 12 is desirable, it, like certain otherparts already described, may in some cases be omitted and in similarmanner equivalents may be em ployed instead of certain of: the membersalready described within the scope of my invention. A register orcounter, however, is advantageous in that a check is had upon thesubscriber, so that the subscriber must of necessity pay for the callswhich have been registered, notwithstanding the fact thata slug or slugsmay have been used in one or more of such calls. WhileIhave termed myinvention a coin controlled telephone pay station, it is not impossiblethat I might use some or all of the features in connection with otherkinds of apparatus.

What I claim is:

-1. The combination of a signal, an indicator, coin controlled means foradvancing said indicator to a degree proportionate with'the amount ofmoney employed in the operation of said coin controlled means, and

signal operating mechanism having means for retracting said indicator.

2. The combination of an indlcator, coin cator varying distances and inproportion with the amount of money employed in operatmg said comcontrolled means, a signal, and signal operating mechamsm having meansfor retracting said indicator.

- 3. The combination of coin controlled means advanceable to variousextent-s and in controlled means for advancing said indiproportion withthe amount of money utilized in the operation thereof, an indicatoradvanceable with the coin controlled means, a. signal. and mechanism forintermittently retracting the coin controlled means, each intermittentmovement being a fraction of the amount of advancing movement, saidmechanism having means for operating said signal on each of saidintermittent movements and for also retracting the indicator.

t. The combination of a telephone transmitter, an audible signal inresonant connection with the transmitter, an indicator, coin controlledmeans for advancing said indicator to a degree proportionate with theamount of money employed in the operation of said coin controlled means,and signal

